Tritonia antarctica
Pfeffer, in Martens & Pfeffer, 1886
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DENDRONOTINA
Family: Tritoniidae
DISTRIBUTION
Antarctica, including the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia at depths from 5 - 481 meters.
PHOTO
McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. On on the soft coral Alcyonium paessleri. This photo is published with the permission of Norbert Wu from the Underwater Field Guide to Ross Island & McMurdo Sound, Antarctica .
Tritonia antarctica is a translucent milky white, sometimes with a yellow or brown tinge, with the yellow to pink gut visible through the body wall. The edge of the mantle, rhinophore tips edge of rhinophore sheaths, velar tentacles, and papillae of the oral veil all have white pigmentation. Living length unknown but preserved specimens, 65mm long have been recorded.
The two white spots on the right side of the body are the genital (in front) and anal (behind) openings. The food of this species is still unknown. It is probable that it is a soft coral feeder like other species of the genus.
References:
• Barnes, D.K.A. & Bullough, L.W. (1996) Some observations on the diet and distribution of nudibranchs at Signy Island, Antarctica. Journal of Molluscan Studies 62: 281-287.
• Wagele, H. (1995) The morphology and taxonomy of the Antarctic species of Tritonia Cuvier, 1797 (Nudibranchia: Dendronotoidea). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 113: 21-46.
Rudman, W.B., 1999 (February 25) Tritonia antarctica Pfeffer, in Martens & Pfeffer, 1886. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/tritanta
